Need advice for new 20g tank

offtropic · Oct 1, 2020

Hey all - I posted in the main reef discussion forum a few days back about setting up a tank that my remote/virtual class could set up along with me and that they could see behind me as I teach online. As an Environmental Science teacher there is so much going on in a fish tank that applies - nitrogen cycle, carbon cycle, salinity, pH, alkalinity, lighting, trace elements, microbiology, invasive species, hands-on testing and, of course, biodiversity.

So, I have access to a used Red Sea Nano (20g) and, after considering some of the options suggested, I think I would like to go with a nem/clown tank. This is appealing because these animals are large enough for my students to see on camera even a few feet away (behind me). I have some experience with both clowns and nems as I have a 90g display in another room in my house that has RBT nem and a couple (paired) of ocellaris clowns. The nem is large and looks 'happy' although it isn't very 'bubbly' - has never hosted the clowns for whatever that is worth.

So, I'm looking for suggestions on what I can put in this 20g tank. Maroon and RBT maybe? clarkii? Hope an ocellaris pair work out better than my display? The bigger and more visible the better but I don't want to stress an animal out in a tank too small. I know the clowns that are currently in my 90g never leave maybe a 10g area in the back unless it is time to eat haha. Any other critters that can work peacefully as well...maybe a cleaner shrimp? I'm open to anything!

Pistondog · Oct 1, 2020

offtropic said:
Hey all - I posted in the main reef discussion forum a few days back about setting up a tank that my remote/virtual class could set up along with me and that they could see behind me as I teach online. As an Environmental Science teacher there is so much going on in a fish tank that applies - nitrogen cycle, carbon cycle, salinity, pH, alkalinity, lighting, trace elements, microbiology, invasive species, hands-on testing and, of course, biodiversity.

So, I have access to a used Red Sea Nano (20g) and, after considering some of the options suggested, I think I would like to go with a nem/clown tank. This is appealing because these animals are large enough for my students to see on camera even a few feet away (behind me). I have some experience with both clowns and nems as I have a 90g display in another room in my house that has RBT nem and a couple (paired) of ocellaris clowns. The nem is large and looks 'happy' although it isn't very 'bubbly' - has never hosted the clowns for whatever that is worth.

So, I'm looking for suggestions on what I can put in this 20g tank. Maroon and RBT maybe? clarkii? Hope an ocellaris pair work out better than my display? The bigger and more visible the better but I don't want to stress an animal out in a tank too small. I know the clowns that are currently in my 90g never leave maybe a 10g area in the back unless it is time to eat haha. Any other critters that can work peacefully as well...maybe a cleaner shrimp? I'm open to anything!

Cleaner shrimp certainly.
A zoa garden would be forgiving and showy.

offtropic · Oct 1, 2020

Pistondog said:
Cleaner shrimp certainly.
A zoa garden would be forgiving and showy.

Separate 'island' for the zoas? Or will it matter?

Pistondog · Oct 1, 2020

offtropic said:
Separate 'island' for the zoas? Or will it matter?

Add frags to adjacent, touching rocks.
They'll fill in.
They are not invasive to the point of uncontrollable.

offtropic · Oct 2, 2020

Anyone have any specific species suggestions? Tank cycle has started so planning ahead.

One Reefing Boi · Oct 2, 2020

I really love the Campfire, Illuminati, Rasta, Blue Lagoon, and Sunny D Zoas

spiraling · Oct 2, 2020

watchman gobi / pistol shrimp is a great combo.

offtropic · Oct 2, 2020

Looking for specific clown/nem species recommendations for this 20g. Maroon ok? ? Should I get bonded pair of something? I can always transfer what I get to my 90g display tank eventually although I'm not sure my existing ocellaris would be that happy about it.

Casket_Case · Oct 2, 2020

offtropic said:
Looking for specific clown/nem species recommendations for this 20g. Maroon ok? ? Should I get bonded pair of something? I can always transfer what I get to my 90g display tank eventually although I'm not sure my existing ocellaris would be that happy about it.

Get some of those black ocellaris clowns and a dark red bubble tip anemone

spiraling · Oct 2, 2020

offtropic said:
Looking for specific clown/nem species recommendations for this 20g. Maroon ok? ? Should I get bonded pair of something? I can always transfer what I get to my 90g display tank eventually although I'm not sure my existing ocellaris would be that happy about it.

Maroons get pretty big for a 20, and adding them to a tank with an existing pair could spell trouble. I would either move the clowns you have or get another pair. It could be they did not host because the nem moved into a spot that wasn't in the clown territory?

offtropic · Oct 2, 2020

spiraling said:
Maroons get pretty big for a 20, and adding them to a tank with an existing pair could spell trouble. I would either move the clowns you have or get another pair. It could be they did not host because the nem moved into a spot that wasn't in the clown territory?

Yeah I think I'd just re-home them. My dilemma is that, ideally, the fish in the tank would be a bit bigger so my students could see them but I also don't want to cause undo stress (like I'm borderline on keeping my yellow tang in my 90). I am definitely not a maroon expert. A couple of juvenile ocellaris could work but not as sure about maroons. I think that in my 90g display the nem was added after the clowns and it choose a sort of higher flow area where the clowns had not set up camp.

chizerbunoi · Oct 2, 2020

I would go with a pair of clowns that you prefer to keep for the long term. I know it's cool for your students, but in the end its your tank and inhabitants to care for the long run.

I have kept a pair of maroons in a 20g. If they are truly paired then it would be fine. But make sure you have a good way of controlling nutrients. They mostly stay in their BTA anyways.

offtropic · Oct 2, 2020

chizerbunoi said:
I would go with a pair of clowns that you prefer to keep for the long term. I know it's cool for your students, but in the end its your tank and inhabitants to care for the long run.

I have kept a pair of maroons in a 20g. If they are truly paired then it would be fine. But make sure you have a good way of controlling nutrients. They mostly stay in their BTA anyways.

Awesome...thanks for weighing in with your experience. Good to know you successfully had maroons in a 20. Did you have any other livestock in there? I do plan to keep the clowns long-term but also looking to keep options open. I might be getting a bigger display tank where more than one pair of clowns could be happy.